Bill To Law: Minnesota's Legislative Process

The process of a bill becoming a law in Minnesota involves eight steps. Anyone can propose a bill, but only legislators, constitutional officers, or state agencies can request the revisor of statutes to put it into the proper legal form. Each bill must have a legislator in each body to serve as its chief author, who then introduces the bill. After its introduction, the bill is assigned a file number and given its first reading before being referred to the appropriate committee. The committee then decides when and if to give the bill a hearing. Once it has passed through all the required committees, the bill is sent to the full House or Senate for its second reading. Following this, there is a debate, a third reading, and a vote. If the House and Senate pass companion bills with non-identical language, a conference committee is formed to find a compromise. Finally, the identical bill is sent to the governor for consideration. The governor can sign it, veto it, or choose not to act on it, in which case it becomes a law.

Anyone can propose a bill

The Minnesota Legislature has 134 members of the House and 67 members of the Senate, and each of these legislators can author as many bills as they want. This means that thousands of bills are introduced at each session. However, only a small proportion of these become law.

Anyone can propose an idea for a bill, including individuals, consumer groups, corporations, governmental units, or the governor. Before a bill can be considered, it must be put into proper legal form by the revisor of statutes. Only a legislator, constitutional officer, or state agency can ask the revisor to prepare a bill.

The revisor of statutes is responsible for putting a proposed bill into the correct legal form. However, they will only do this if asked by a legislator, constitutional officer, or state agency. The chief author of the bill usually makes this request.

Each bill must have one legislator in each body to serve as its chief author. The chief author typically asks the revisor to prepare the bill and then introduces it, presents it in committees, and on the floor. Other legislators can sign on as co-authors to show their support for the proposal. There can be up to 34 co-authors in the House and four in the Senate. Co-authors are listed on the bill but often don't take an active role in its passage.

The chief author of a bill introduces it, presents it in committees, and on the floor. When a bill is introduced, it is assigned a file number, which is how it is known. In the House, it is given a house file number (e.g. H.F. 1531), and in the Senate, a senate file number (e.g. S.F. 1331). Numbers are assigned to bills chronologically as they are introduced. The House and Senate versions of the bills are known as companions.

At the time a bill is introduced, it is given its "first reading" and is referred to the appropriate committee. A bill must receive three readings on the floor of each body before it can be passed.

A legislator must ask the revisor to prepare the bill

Each bill must have a chief author, a legislator in each body who introduces the bill, presents it in committees, and on the floor. The chief author plays a central role in steering the bill through the legislative process. While other legislators may sign on as co-authors to show their support, they often do not take an active role in the bill's passage. There can be up to 34 co-authors in the House and four in the Senate, and these co-authors are listed on the bill.

The chief author plays a central role in shepherding the bill through the legislative process, from its initial idea to its introduction and presentation in committees and on the floor. Their request to the revisor of statutes is a critical step in ensuring that an idea is translated into a bill with the correct legal format, setting the stage for its progression through the legislative process and, potentially, its enactment into law.

The bill is introduced and assigned a file number

The Minnesota Legislature consists of 134 members of the House and 67 members of the Senate, and each legislator can author as many bills as they want. This leads to thousands of bills being introduced during each session.

Before a bill can be introduced, it must be put into proper legal form by the revisor of statutes. Only a legislator, constitutional officer, or state agency can ask the revisor to prepare a bill. Each bill must have one legislator in each body to serve as the chief author of the bill, and other legislators may sign on as "co-authors" to show their support for the proposal. There may be up to 34 co-authors in the House and four in the Senate.

When a bill is introduced, it is assigned a file number by which it is known. In the House, it is a house file number, e.g., H.F. 1531; in the Senate, a senate file number, e.g., S.F. 1331. Numbers are assigned to bills in chronological order as they are introduced. The House and Senate versions of the bills are known as companions.

At the time a bill is introduced, it is given its “first reading” and is referred to the appropriate committee. A bill must receive three readings on the floor of each body before it can be passed.

The bill goes to committee

Once a bill has been introduced, it is given its "first reading" and assigned to a committee. The committee to which the bill is sent will be chosen based on the subject matter of the bill. The committee chair will decide when and if to give the bill a hearing. All committee meetings are open to the public.

Committees will often hear testimony from those in favour of or opposed to a bill before taking action. They may also amend the language of the bill. Committees can vote on whether a bill should pass or delay consideration of it by "laying it on the table". A bill must receive the votes of a majority of the members present and voting in order to pass. Bills that are passed may be sent to another committee for further review or to the floor for consideration by the entire House or Senate.

The bill is sent to the House or Senate for a vote

Once a bill has passed through all of the required committees, it is sent to the full House or Senate and given its second reading and placed on the list of bills that the body may consider. In the House, this list is called the General Register; in the Senate, it is called General Orders.

At this point, House and Senate procedures differ slightly. In the House, the Committee on Rules and Legislative Administration chooses bills from the General Register for consideration by the full House by placing them on the Calendar for the Day or the Fiscal Calendar. In the Senate, the chair of the committee on Rules and Administration designates the bills from General Orders that the Senate will consider each day.

The chief author presents the bill. Members may debate the merits of the bill and offer amendments. When there are no more amendments, the bill is given its third reading. After any additional debate, the House takes a roll call vote on the bill, meaning that each member's vote for or against the bill is recorded. The Senate then meets as the "committee of the whole," and debates the issue and offers amendments to the bill. The Senate then votes the bill up or down. Bills approved by the "committee of the whole)" are placed on the calendar. At this point, the bill has its third reading, and a roll call vote is taken on the bill. To pass, a bill needs the votes of a majority of the members in each body. The one exception is bonding bills, which require a vote of three-fifths of the members to pass. A bonding bill authorizes the sale of bonds to raise money for the state.

Frequently asked questions